The Heads of State/Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, held the Special ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) via videoconference on 14 April 2020. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Viet Nam, in his capacity as the Chair of ASEAN.

The following is Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh's article titled " ASEAN’s cooperation to combat COVID-19: Strength in unity", released ahead of the Special ASEAN Summit and Special ASEAN+3 Summit on COVID-19.

Viet Nam shall temporarily suspend the issuance of entry visas for foreigners in the next 30 days, starting from 00:00 Wednesday, March 18, 2020 (Vietnam local time). The measure IS NOT APPLICABLE to passengers traveling to Viet Nam for DIPLOMATIC or OFFICIAL purposes.

Starting from 12:00 PM on March 15, 2020 (Vietnam local time), Viet Nam temporarily suspends entry into the country for all foreign nationals (tourists, passengers holding family visit/student/ordinary visas) coming from or passing through Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland within a 14-day period prior to their expected entry into Viet Nam.

On Feb 28-29, 2020, the National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 and the Ministry of Health of Vietnam issued Documents No. 953/CV-BCD and No. 991/BYT-DP with updated guidance on the implementation of quarantine and medical precautions for individuals arriving in Vietnam from regions affected by COVID-19.